It's been a remarkable journey for this son of rural Minnesota. On his way to becoming a British Open champion and the 1996 Player of the Year, Lehman spent time on the then Ben Hogan Tour as well as in Asia and South Africa refining his game. He nearly gave up competitive play to coach the University of Minnesota golf team, but the notion of renting out cross country skis in the off season was more than he could stomach. Lehman picked up his first PGA Tour victory at the 1994 Memorial Tournament.
Background
Turned Pro: 1982 Birthday: 3/7/1959
College: University of Minnesota Height: 6'2"
Birthplace: Austin, MN Residence: Scottsdale, AZ
Exempt Status: Winner, 1996 British Open (through 2006)
Major Victories
1996: Open Championship
PGA Tour Victories
1996: Tour Championship
1995: Colonial National Invitation
1994: Memorial Tournament
International Victories
1997: Loch Lomond World Invitational (Eur.)
1993: Casio World Open (Jpn.)
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
PGA TOUR Player of the Year in 1996
Leading money-winner with then-record $1,780,159
First victory of year came at British Open at Royal Lytham and St. Annes
After consecutive 67s, shared 36-hole lead with Paul McGinley
Fired course-record 64 in third round to lead Nick Faldo by six strokes
Closing 73 enough for two-stroke victory over Ernie Els and Mark McCumber
First American professional to win at Royal Lytham and first American to do so since Bobby Jones in 1926
Closed season with dominant performance at TOUR Championship
After sharing first-round lead with Vijay Singh at 66, shot 67 for four-stroke lead at halfway point
Led by nine after bogey-free 64 in third round, eventually winning by six over Brad Faxon
$540,000 first-prize check is largest of TOUR career
Failed to win in 1997 but came close twice
Was tied with Tiger Woods after 54 holes at the Mercedes Championships
After final round was cancelled, the two played off at par-3 seventh hole
Tom hit his tee shot in the water, after which Woods drove to within one foot and tapped in for victory
At U.S. Open, water at 71st hole deprived him of another chance at victory
Finished third two strokes behind Ernie Els
Joined Bobby Jones as only players to lead U.S. Open after three rounds three consecutive years
With tie for fourth at 1997 MCI Classic, moved into first place on Official World Golf Ranking
Only second player from U.S. to lead World Ranking up to that point, following Fred Couples, who led for 15 weeks in 1992
Relinquished spot the next week when Greg Norman was second at Spanish Open
Served notice of things to come with breakthrough 1994 season that included his first TOUR victory at Memorial Tournament
Captured first TOUR victory in 1994, year in which he first surpassed $1 million in earnings for a season
Four consecutive 67s produced tournament-record 268 and five-stroke victory over Greg Norman at Memorial
Win helped him to first $1 million season on TOUR
Earlier that year, runner-up to Jose Maria Olazabal at Masters
Earned second victory at 1995 Colonial National Invitation
Trailed Craig Parry by two strokes after opening 67-68-68
Caught Parry in final round with birdie at 12th hole andsecured win with birdies at 17 and 18
Opened year with second at United Airlines Hawaiian Open
After MCI Classic, missed month due to colon surgery
Third at U.S. Open after sharing 54-hole lead with Greg Norman
Following three lukewarm seasons on TOUR in 1983, 1984 and 1985, played in Asia, South Africa and elsewhere for rest of 1980s
Used Ben Hogan Tour (now NIKE TOUR) as road back to PGA TOUR
Won once on Hogan Tour in 1990 and three times in 1991, when he was Tour's leading money-winnerand Player of the Year
Had nine top-10 finishes in 1992, including T2 at Hardee's Golf Classic, and finished 24th on moneylist
Tied for third at 1993 Masters
Teamed with Duffy Waldorf to win 1995 and 1996 Diners Club Matches.
Teamed with Fred Couples and Phil Mickelson to win 1997 Wendy's Three-Tour Challenge
Member of Ryder Cup teams in 1995 and 1997 and the Presidents Cup team in 1994 and 1996
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